Self is an Oklahoma native who was the state's high school player of the year in 1981 before lettering all four years at Oklahoma State. Then his coaching career started, and well, you know the rest.

Comaneci, the first gymnast in Olympic history to card a perfect 10, has Oklahoma roots because of her husband, Bart Conner, who became an Oklahoma Sports Hall of Famer in 1996.

Self can be something that Comaneci is not, however, and that's a member of the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame. Before he gets consideration for that, he has to hang up his whistle.

Just exactly when that happens is an open question, and where his last coaching stop will be is also unknown.

It's not because Self is unhappy in Lawrence. It's just that he's taking the never-say-never approach when asked about coaching in the NBA.

"It hasn't really tempted me because I haven't had that many people talk to me about it," Self told The Oklahoman. "But at some point and time, sure, I think it would (tempt me). It would be great to be able to match wits with the best athletes in the world, but I'm certainly happy where I'm at.

"I'm not saying I never would (coach in the NBA), but I'm locked in."

What Self has to weigh is whether he wants to match wits with the best, or become one of the winningest college basketball coaches of all time. At 507 wins, he has a real shot at 1,000 (or more), if he wants it. It'd take about 20 years, but at age 50, that's in play for Self.

So yeah, Comaneci can have her perfect 10, but Self could be best in his class if he wants to chase it.